Left hand grip ...long or short thumb?

[J2putts]

Forever I've had inconsistent feel with my left hand grip . Times i grip the club and it feels locked in and awesome . Other times I grip and something just feels off . After all this time I finally figured it out ! My left thumb was the issue . When I grip with a long thumb my grip feels great . I had been inconsistent with my left thumb placement all this time !

[dasams]

I spent an hour & half chipping and chatting with Mac O'Grady last month and he was adamant that a long thumb is the way to go. He also showed me something else. Hold your hands in front of you with you fingers pointing up. Now drop your thumbs so that they're about 90 deg with your adjacent index finger. For a righty, your left thumb will drop further than your right and Mac says the extra stretch is from hitting golf balls.

[b.mattay]

I spent an hour & half chipping and chatting with Mac O'Grady last month and he was adamant that a long thumb is the way to go. He also showed me something else. Hold your hands in front of you with you fingers pointing up. Now drop your thumbs so that they're about 90 deg with your adjacent index finger. For a righty, your left thumb will drop further than your right and Mac says the extra stretch is from hitting golf balls.

 

Definitely not true for everyone. I am the opposite.

[b.mattay]

I like the short thumb personally, but I have a bad lead wrist, and extending that lead thumb really puts strain on it. Great players have used both long and short left thumbs.

[BB28403]

I spent an hour & half chipping and chatting with Mac O'Grady last month and he was adamant that a long thumb is the way to go. He also showed me something else. Hold your hands in front of you with you fingers pointing up. Now drop your thumbs so that they're about 90 deg with your adjacent index finger. For a righty, your left thumb will drop further than your right and Mac says the extra stretch is from hitting golf balls.

 

Ok, someone ask their non golf playing friends to test their left thumbs and get back to us. I need to know! :)

[rkodavey]

What is the difference? How would going to a more "long thumb" or "short thumb" grip impact your game one way or the other?

[BB28403]

What is the difference? How would going to a more "long thumb" or "short thumb" grip impact your game one way or the other?

 

Some books do say to nestle the left thumb into the pad of the right hand. It’s a more airtight grip. Also it may add to more left wrist control as your left thumb is tighter on the club.

 

It’s debatable , I mean if youre short thumbing who’s going to know?

[MonteScheinblum]

Blondes or brunettes?

[b_f_c_99]

Blondes or brunettes?

 

Dude! Redheads, I’m married to one so I’m required to say that.

[Ri_Redneck]

I have played golf for 40+ years and my thumbs are in the same position when I do that weird Mac O'Grady test. I have always played with a short thumb grip.

 

BT

[dwboston]

I prefer a medium thumb - in between long and short. I feel like I can't get a solid grip with a short thumb, and a long thumb just feels odd.